Hotel Operations

🏨 In Washington, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) and Hireology survey reveals 65% of hotels still face staff shortages, despite higher pay and benefits. Pre-pandemic staffing levels are nearly 10% higher than current figures. Staff shortages decreased from 76% in May 2024 to 65% by year-end, with 9% of hotels "severely understaffed." Hotels aim to fill an average of 6-7 positions, struggling most with housekeeping (38%) and front desk (26%) roles. Key retention strategies include raising wages (47%), flexible hours (20%), and hotel discounts (13%).

🏨 Nearly two-thirds (65%) of U.S. hotels report staffing shortages despite wage increases and new incentives, per an AHLA and Hireology survey. Hotel employment remains 10% below pre-pandemic levels. Staffing shortages dropped from 76% in May 2024 to 65% by year-end. "Severely understaffed" hotels decreased from 13% to 9%. Over 70% of hotels have vacancies, averaging six to seven unfilled positions, with housekeeping roles (38%) being the hardest to staff. To attract staff, 47% of hotels raised pay, while others offer flexible scheduling (20%) and hotel discounts (13%). The survey collected responses from 282 hoteliers between December 6, 2024, and January 3, 2025.

📈 In the hospitality industry, minimum stay restrictions can negatively impact market share, OTA visibility, and long-term ADR and occupancy rates. Special events can cause rate increases, naturally extending average stay lengths and optimizing operational costs. However, imposing minimum stays is typically discouraged, except during major events like New Year's Eve or the Champions League finals when rates alone may not manage bookings effectively. Incentivizing longer stays through promotions is preferred over implementing obligatory minimum stays.

🎓 Key hospitality industry advice: immerse in operations, prioritize self-development, expose oneself to various cultures, engage with organizations (HSMAI, HOSPA, IoH), network, attend conferences, seek award nominations, and maintain life balance by recognizing personal limits and valuing time off.

🛈 Master Hotel Overbooking strategies discussed with a publishing date of February 20, 2025. The article by Akanksha Mohapatra on Hotelogix blog aims to maximize profit by exploring effective strategies, benefits, and best practices for managing overbookings in hotels.

🏨 Hospitality associations provide numerous benefits to hoteliers, including networking and advocacy, enhancing business success. The article indicates the importance of hoteliers joining these associations but lacks specific details such as dates, locations, or statistical data to extract a summary.

📌 High turnover in hospitality can impact profits and service quality. The blog emphasizes employee retention strategies to maintain a satisfied, engaged, and productive workforce. Written by Manveen Kaur, the article was published on February 17, 2025, suggesting that businesses learn from expert strategies to reduce staff turnover. The content is available on the Hotelogix Blog, focusing on hospitality tips and trends.

💍 Macdonald Norwood Hall in Aberdeen is nominated for Wedding Venue of the Year at the Top Tier Wedding Awards, with Aimee Bell nominated for Co-ordinator of the Year. The black-tie winners' announcement is set for February 23rd at Ardoe House Hotel. Bell is also nominated at the Scottish Wedding Awards, occurring February 26th at the Glasgow Marriott Hotel. The venue, established in 1881 within a 15th-century castle's grounds, features 73 luxury bedrooms and hosts one wedding per day. It emphasizes quality food with locally-sourced ingredients.

📢 Marc Schwarz, Director of Service at Thrive Hospitality, discussed hospitality training on Feb. 13, 2025. The podcast episode focused on effective training methods, aiming for service excellence.